New Routine
Embracing Change: A Tale of Two Diners
Lyrics
Two men sit in the corner of a diner
Setting the scene: Two men in a diner.
Both of them look quite a bit like Carl Reiner
Comparison to Carl Reiner, perhaps emphasizing their ordinary appearance.
One of them is smoking even though the sign says not to
Defiance of rules – one man smoking despite a no-smoking sign.
The waitress says to stop, he says sorry but I've got to
Waitress confronts the smoker, he apologizes but continues.
They tell each other jokes that they both know that they both know
Shared understanding in jokes, creating a connection.
They talk about real estate, prostates, Costco
Conversation topics: real estate, prostates, Costco – mundane everyday matters.
And when they finish up they leave a twenty on the table
Leaving a generous tip – a small act of kindness.
The waitress picks it up with their half-eaten bagels
Waitress cleaning up, taking the tip with leftover bagels.
And when her shift is over she goes back to Mineola
Waitress heading home to Mineola after her shift.
Sits on the couch, opens up a diet cola and says
Waitress's routine at home: sitting on the couch, opening a diet cola.
I'm so, I'm so sick of this place I'm so ready for a change of pace
Expressing dissatisfaction with the current situation.
I'm just looking for a new routine
Desire for change and a new routine.
So she spins her globe and the next thing you know
Spinning the globe – a symbol of seeking something new.
She's living in Liechtenstein
Result: Living in Liechtenstein.
She doesn't speak German, only high school Spanish
Language barrier in Liechtenstein – only knows high school Spanish.
But within a few weeks she discovers she can manage
Adaptation and managing in the new environment.
But there's not much going on except for banking and skiing
Little happening in Liechtenstein – limited activities.
So she breaks up with the man that she just started seeing
Breaking up due to lack of excitement, returning home.
He drops her at the airport in a diesel Mercedes
Parting scene: Airport drop-off in a diesel Mercedes.
Thinks to himself I'm so feeble with the ladies and I
Self-reflection on dating challenges.
I'm so, I'm so sick of this place
Repetition of dissatisfaction with the current situation.
I'm so ready for a change of pace
Reiteration of the desire for a change of pace.
I'm just looking for a new routine
Repetition of seeking a new routine.
So he grabs his cap
Action: grabbing a cap, preparing for change.
Throws a dart at a map
Random decision-making: throwing a dart at a map.
And now he's living in Bowling Green
Result: Living in Bowling Green.
He talks his way into
Job acquisition: talking his way into a position at La Quinta.
A job at La Quinta
Chasing love: falling for the manager.
Falls for the manager
Complication: she's moving back to Canada.
Who's moving back to Canada
Ending the relationship due to conflicting plans.
She's tried Roanoke, Reykjavik, Rome
Manager's unsuccessful attempts at finding a suitable home.
Says you're really sweet but I just want to go home
Rejecting the sweetness, prioritizing the desire to go home.
Two men sit in the corner of a diner
Return to the diner scene with different characters.
One of them says I might take a trip to China
Discussion of a possible trip to China.
It's one of those things we should do before we're too old
Suggestion to experience things before getting too old.
Thanks but no thanks, bring me back an egg roll
Polite refusal, humor in asking for an egg roll.
Bring it back
Repetition: Bring it back.
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